Well-intentioned but a bit laborious this book could be used as an excellent primer in the study of freedom of choice. The rabbi at the center of the story is saddled with a board of synagogue directors who have unreal expectations, are frequently obnoxious and who complain about every thing the Rabbi does, from counseling to singing and about his sermons as well. They try to micromanage him and are frequently reluctant to listen to his balanced approach to problems. This was what I found tiresome. That the Rabbi himself needed as much counseling as those he gives much time too was quite realistic. ( )